Kat817

What are the recommendations with the sleeve and pregnancy? For the time being, I think I would do some research on the omnipaque and take it with me, just in case it is a simple leak as opposed to a dislocation of the tubing. Also have you checked to see if any changes were made to your insurance as to coverage?? My friend paid out of pocket for hers, but since her company has added WLS coverage, and now 80% of her fills and care are covered.....wish mine was!

Tracy--You're back, and I am so glad!!! If I had checked in earlier, I would have calley YOU! But now I am heading out the door. I made myself sit down and pay bills before logging on!!! I am trying to get the house clean, we have a big to-do this weekend here, will tell you more later....is a grrrrrr subject for me, one that began happy and is only irritating at best now! Gotta run. Hugs everyone!

Yep I have to agree Lu, avoid the peacocks. My inlaws neighbors have them, and they scared the hell outta me when I first was out there. They call all the time, day and night it seems, and the call sounds like someone yelling "HELP!" I kid you not! There are dozens of pairs now roaming the river, and when I go ride, I hear them, and can never convince myself if it is birds or people I am hearing. My fear is someday it will be a hurt farmer, and I will ignore him thinking it is a damn peacock. Keep the goats, or put an ad in for a good home, but avoid the trade!!! LOL Off to work, have a good day all!

I will add you MIL to our prayer chain as well. It is a scary, scary diagnosis. Once a Mom always a Mom, more concerned over upsetting a child than for her own health. It isn't funny, but yet it is, we never change! I worried over how to break the news to both my kids and my parents. My first tears were shed over that thought! I have to have an Xray of the lungs each time I do my bone scans, as lung cancer is a common secondary cancer to bone cancer (as well as brain which is why they are testing what they are), and I have 2 living bone tumors. I am glad he has you there to help him process the news. My Mom is having surgery on her arms next Tuesday. She is having her bat wings removed! I am SOOOO jealous!! But she has lived with hers a lot longer than I have! Someday I too will remove mine, it is a genetic, almost deformity---Mom is not real big, but her upper arms have a fat pad that drops and hangs over her elbow....and mine is on its way that way too. The Dr. told her she could be 100 pounds, and would still have fat there. If she were anorexic, she would die with fat still there! He said there is not enough muscle running through the back of the arm to burn fat well, and when it separates due to the weight of itself, then it is hardly affected by weight loss or exercise at all. I hate hearing that, and yet it made me feel like I was not such a failure at toning!! Terry, you doing ok? My leftover chocolate cake is staring at me....so guess I will go to work. I did not sleep well, have some issues hanging over my head, financially to deal with. Wish me luck. See you after work.

Is your brother perhaps, or even members of the family, still overweight?? I would like to blame that, but in my own experience, it has been those that have never battled weight who seem to have attitude over my loss. It is not people who would see me as "competition", they just seem condescending in their attitude to me now, like I am a lesser person. People can be so wierd! I would just stay away. I know they are family, but is that the attitude you really want your boys being raised seeing? Make your own support family away from them. As for the ex, there is not a lot you can do without having a boatload of money for attorneys! Just try to discuss things with the kids about the emotions behind certain actions, and how they are not accepted at home. And stress to them if they ever feel unsafe with him, they can call you OR 911. ANYTIME! Even if they are just scared, if nothing is happening but they are scared there, they can call for help. Good Luck.

Looooong day. Lots of walk ins, and they do not turn them away, so it is chaos. I am more hard nosed. There are those I would understand and see, and others could make an appointment, or go elsewhere! I worked almost an hour late, and even then, I left with 3 people in the waiting room, and one in exam. I did MY part of their exam, and the paperwork involved, so left them to the Dr, and his sidekick, the Office manager! I am off to the shower. We had lots of garden stuff to put up, and dinner to cook, and I am just now settling back. Going to go shower, so my hair can dry some----will try to check in later, or in the morning. Miss all of you!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, was a good day! Would have been great if I hadn't had to work!!! DH come and took me to a great lunch at a really nice little place, and then sent me flowers at work, cuz he felt bad he was off and I was not! Then tonight we went to dinner with the parents and kids, and grandkids----20 of us!!! I am DAMN old! Lots of grandkids!!! See y'all tomorrow, thanks again! Being remembered made me feel special!!

TY, was a good day, would have been great but I had to work! Had dinner out with the family, 20 of us!!! I had grandkids EVERYWHERE!!! Loved it! Off to snuggle and spend time with my honey, who not only come and took me a very classy lunch, but had flowers delivered to me at work, to make my day better.....yep, gonna keep him! Hugs!

You're almost right, but don't forget that I am a BIG girl, so I can say bad words while I pout!!! And Susan, I HAVE plenty of clothes, just don't wanna wear them, prefer my home clothes....cuz I would prefer to be HOME!!! I should NOT have to work tomorrow, and that is my final decision!!! For what it's worth!!!

Just checking in, and letting you know, my modum is screwy, I have been without internet all day, then looked over here, and it was lit up again, and Voila! How long? Who knows!!! Lu, hugs over the dog, whoever he "belonged" to he was in your heart too.....sorry. I better get busy, I have to find something to wear to work tomorrow, and I seriously DO NOT want to go. You have no idea, I mean SERIOUSLY don't wanna!

Just a quick check in to let you all know my modum is screwy, I have been without internet most of the day....then I looked over here, and there were lights, so taking advantage!!! If I disappear, have faith, I WILL be back!!! LOL Talk to all of you soon.

Hey Jenn----quit letting him disappear of the face of your earth, YOU disappear off the face of HIS for awhile!! Make up YOUR mind that if he will not treat you well---then you WILL treat yourself well. Treat yourself to something small and special every day you manage not to make your world orbit around his. A new bottle of nail polish, or a single stem carnation or rose to brighten a room. Nothing high dollar, but something you SEE to affirm to yourself, that since he is not doing right by you, you are going to do right by yourself. Personally I would not check in with him the entire time I was gone on your mini vacay, and when I got back he would not hear from me. Make up your mind that you ARE worth being treated well! Let me ask you this. In all seriousness. Do you think your kids are horrible? I can rest very well that you answered that with a resounding NO! Well Kev is ignoring them too, it is not just YOU this affects. These are his issues, NOT yours. Let them remain his! And you and the kids get out there and live the great lives you deserve! Ok--hopping off my soap box!!! LOL It is only cuz I care!

Way the "F" harder Terry. No bones about it. We cried rivers of tears over our DS....and my heart breaks for you. I remember it. I DO so much want to encourage you tho---to look where he is now. He is a responisble, sober, father, and husband, and the son we always knew he SHOULD be, when he wasn't. His issues were with meth, as well as the usual pot and alcohol all the kids seemed to be doing. The meth was the bad part. He has frequent and random UA's at work now, and has no fears. We are off to the fairgrounds, going to eat junk food again then see old Roy Clark!!! OLD being the key there I think!!! Michelle, I can remember your DD's excitement! I LOVE my horses. I LOVE riding. They are every bit as much pets as any dog or cat. They sense your moods, and react. And riding is excellent exercise----maybe you should join her---no different than going to the Y together!!! It works core muscles every second you are in the saddle. HEY---go ride, and then you and I can do a horse show for the Violets, you know trick riding etc. Laughing too hard at the visual, of me swinging around on a horse, to go much further with this joking!!!! Swinging up and over is enough!!! LOL I do know the love she feels, and I really feel getting her involved in these things is good----keeps them occupied. Well better get dressed to go.....how stupid of me is it to wear a white shirt????

Off to take my Mom shopping, and get this....going to start my Christmas shopping in earnest today!! I have a coupon, a preferred customer coupon, good today only, and it gives me such a great price, I am off to buy sheets for the kids today. 600-1200 thread count egyptian cotton sheet sets--come with 4 pillowcases, and will take them down to the neighborhood of $40.00 a set!!! Get those and stash them, and making the first purchase---always gets me going then!! We bought Rick's Moms birthday the other night at the fair. They had a special price on the local newspaper, half off, so we bought her a years subscription. She pours over ever single inch, she reads every legal, every tidbit!!! Better go pick up Mom, then she can rest before we take them to the Roy Clark concert tonight!!! Busy day for her! Travel safe girls!

That sucks....it is one of the things I really dislike about these type of sites. I hate when I just "lose" friends, and have no alternate way of contacting them. It happen for years. When I first joined LBT I was in a group of us who had all been banded at a similar time. One of the womens sons had been sent to Iraq, and we all knew how stressed she was, and one day she was just gone. No word from her....ever again. I still wonder what happen. Now we have other options, and most have some contact through Facebook or Myspace----and it is a relief to be able to contact them that way. I know the Shrinking Violets group, we have all met up and done the vacation thing, so we have phone numbers, and texts, and communicate outside the forum. But with the upset in THIS room, with people leaving, and feeling a need for a break, it leaves you feeling like something is missing, and the sad thing is that it isn't someTHING, it is someONES, and with them being gone, you can't even tell them. I can see you are dealing with a lot of it in both places, and I am really sorry. Any of them available on FB or anywhere??? DH had a friend come over, he is in town from the west coast. They have been friends since 3rd grade. Was so good to see him, he has had some chaos----divorce etc. His Mom is here and has ALS---so he has been trying to come see her more often, but his wife --- well the ex wife, is a mexican national, she never became a citizen, and even though she is divorced, she can stay in the country with the kids, legally. But he is afraid if he leaves for too long, she will go back to her family in Mexico with the kids....so he has been waiting til he can bring them with him. But now the kids are big enough they know the fear, so he feels safer----and they both wanted to come anyway!!! Go figure kids out! Got to spend time gazing upon my new grandson tonight, he is sooooo sweet, it just melts my heart!

Wow, you and Jane both getting wierd Dr. stuff! One of our first questions when opening any file, is to verify the birthdate. However here in our little bitty town, there is another woman with the same name as me! And get this, our birthdays are the same, except she is 10 years to the day older than I am! Leads to issues EVERY single time I try to fill an Rx at Walmart, so I quit trying!

LOL, we too have jalapenos coming on in the garden quickly! I ate so many it almost made me sick the other night. We stuff them, and bake them----soooo good, but the whole "in moderation" thing got me! Tomatoes are multiplying on the counter now as well as on the vine, I swear, when I went to work there was nowhere as many on the counter as there is now! Go figure....and I don't even like them! I am off to go take care of my grandsons for a couple of hours so my DS can take DIL out for her birthday. That means, DH can kick a soccer ball around with the 3 year old, and I can snuggle up with the 1 week old!!! Tough job, but I think I can handle it!!

Awwww TY slim!!! Now what's for dinner? I might really come into your life!!! I have not got a clue what to fix!

What I have found with the weight loss thing, is that the more you have to lose, the faster it goes....in the beginning. Then it slows, and slows as you go. So while it seems those with only 50 pounds left to lose, have it made, it is HARD losing them! It is not as easy! Your body needs less calories, it burns less, unless you DO a lot more! I will admit teasing Lu that I celebrated when I got DOWN to her starting size!!! But did it mean I wanted to stop there? Hell no! And Beth is right, I was off of meds after the first 50 pounds, no more high blood pressure meds, no more diabetes meds, nothing! I have since lost a lot more than that, but it has not been as fast, nor as shocking, because I gained my HEALTH back with the first big loss. But I am not happy with that, I want it all gone....again, and will continue to work til it is. It sucks, when you get the PM's or actual comments in threads that treat you like you are a know it all bitch, when you struggled through exactly what they are! I had one person really get pissy with me, I had commented in a success thread, because someone come in the there to rain on the parade.....and began discussing their issues, well the thread changed directions, so mods moved it to complications. I got chewed out for flaunting my success in the face of people not so lucky, because all that got me through was luck, all kinds of crap! Several people set them straight that the thread had originally been in a different forum....they still followed me around for several days mocking things I said. I actuallyquit going to my usual threads-----here and my Shrinking Violets, to keep them out of there. What I see as the problem, is simply know it all people who think they have to correct every little thing that anyone says. Most people know to read advice here with the knowledge it is just the other persons experience. Lately there has been a lot of picking EVERY posters post apart, and correcting EVERY statement, and then tearing apart the grammar used, and just nit picking people to death! Here in PJTP, we often make fun of it, and imitate it in humor for a few posts and go on, but to be on the receiving end of the crap that is being spewed is annoying as hell. And those doing it, know.....and they know to walk a fine line to avoid being banned, which leaves us as moderators wanting to say or do something but have our hands tied, and it sucks! I do NOT understand the constant need of some posters to hang out at LBT to trash talk the band....or even to promote their WLS of choice---go to that forum...get over yourself already! Move on. I wish we had the ability to simply move them on, but we don't. So the best I can do is ignore them. To make them see the light we see is as impossible as it is to make some see that the way THEY read the bible is not necessarily the way we read the same thing to mean! TPG, yes the band is work, it is much easier WITH the band to lose the weight that without. I know you love this.....it is a tool. But hey I did NOT say see your surgeon!!! LOL Seriously tho, if you have weighed your options (pun intended)....you have to think that yes something might happen, and be detrimental to your health, but at this point, doing nothing is definitely detrimental to your health. Obesity is not healthy! Getting your mind into the game is the biggest part of it. And for many that is as much what the pre op is for as the shrinking of the liver, it is a mind set, that things, life, is going to change. Would I do it again? If the options were the same as when I had it done I would do it again in a heart beat! Since I had it done, there have been advances in other surgeries, I might consider, I don't know, I have not researched them enough to say what I would choose if the choice were mine today. But I have been thrilled with my results, and my life with the band. I'm a groupie~yay! Hope our friends choose us over allowing the others to win.....

Weekend...YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO incredibly glad!! We are so swamped with patients it is unreal. Moms lying about an eye injury, or infection to get the kids worked in. Malpractice makes it so you cannot turn them away, no matter what. So your nicely scheduled day goes to hell in a hurry! Most of the ones doing that, are the ones the school sent letters home with the kids last year stating they need an eye exam before school starts.....so oh yeah, we better do it, school starts this week! Grrrrrrrrr!! I had a lady getting totally mad at me, she kept coming to my desk/counter and telling me "we were here before that girl who just went back, can you find out why?" I told her, that the patients with appointments will be seen first, that the screening did not show an emergency situation with her kids eye, so ALL scheduled appointments will go before her as a walk in. I swear steam come out her ears!! Tomorrow night, I am taking my folks to a concert at the fair. They try not to drive at night, not feeling real confident in their ability to see well, and Roy Clark is in concert (yeah he IS still alive!), my Dad used to watch him on Hee Haw all the time, and wants to see him. I was teasing Dad that he may be too old to be a pickin' and a grinnin' anymore!! Well, I have to go research when Rick ordered some pipes, he never received......we paid good $$$ for them, and they have yet to arrive. Speaking of $$$$--Jane you should be getting yours, keep an eye out for it. Wouldn't want you forgetting it, I mean if you can forget a colonoscopy......you know, jus' sayin'!!!!! LOL See uY'all later!

Hey girls! Not much time, I am off to work, last day this week--YAY!! Something wierd going on there, but not sure what! Had a really good time at the fair last night. Went with Becky & Gary, and no kids. We did run into their youngest son and his wife, but they have no kids yet, so we didn't have to run herd on anyone except the husbands! It had been a long time since we had managed to connect schedules and go anywhere together. We laughed until my sides hurt this morning. We were calmly walking through the rabbit barn....and there was this cute little bunny butt up against the edge of his cage. It looked so soft, and since it was at the opposite end as the teeth, I casually touched it. OMG! The rabbit jumped straight up in the air, and when he did, his feet sprayed Becky with hay, and rabbit food, she screeched, I screeched, and the poor rabbit had to be peeled off the roof of the cage I think. It was such a huge and sudden move it freaked us all out! And it was started, Becky and I could not stop laughing. Even typing it to you, I see the same wide eyed freaked out look on both Becky's and the rabbits faces. And I know--I jumped literally off the ground when it did, it scared the you know what outta me! Was hilarious. Sounds lame....guess ya had to be there! Terry, keep going to your meetings. And know lots of love is coming your way. Tracy.....I'da been watching Willie Wonka too!!! I gotta go....dang work!

Jane-------I have SOFT hands!!! Lotion got here this morning, and boy did I need it! I spent my morning off washing bathroom walls!!! Not to be too gross, but many of you have boys, I have a 3 year old grandson who I can only hope will improve his aim over time!!! Now I am dressed and ready to go work for awhile. Then tonight we are meeting Manda and her BF and the kids at the fair. The county fair is going on, and is a big deal!!! We may go get "Mr. cannot aim" and take him with us, since that is something only big boys can do, not babies!!! He is VERY into being BIG! And we want to maintain that attitude, so she doesn't have him reverting to wanting to be a baby again! Will try to check in later. THANK YOU Jane!!!!!!! Love it!

Haydee, while I was not joking with the passive aggressive thing, I totally 100% agree on the compromise thing. Marriage/relationships are NEVER going to be 50/50. Sometimes you need more and sometimes you give more---and if you can both give AND take---that is what matters most. That being said, you DO have to seriously consider the other person. I had been married for lotsa years, when about a year ago, I come in here totally freaking out because I had said and acted in a horrid way to Rick, and was convinced I had ruined my marriage. Terry posted an article on forgiveness. The last paragraph was about when YOU need forgiven. And it was like someone hitting me up side the head with a 2X 4! I am one to talk a subject to death, and I wanted it over, and behind us, and him to forgive me right then. He is not one to argue like that, never has been, and I was ALWAYS pushing him to argue MY way! He thinks about things, seldom (if ever) blurts things out without thinking. He is fair minded to a fault. He is not stewing, and building up ammo against you, he is seriously just working it through, and gets over it. If he does not feel a need to discuss it further, he doesn't. The article Terry posted was like written for me! It said not to keep bringing the hurt up if the one you offended did not want to talk about it, it was like rubbing salt in their wounds to keep hearing about it over and over. So for the first time EVER I sat back, and did not force MY way upon him. It was harder than I can say! I ended it by saying to him I was wrong, and I am sorrier than words can say. And it was over, he has never brought up my cruel words, and never treated my bad for them. So long after it was over, we discussed how when we screw up, and we know it, it is only right to deal with it the way the wronged person would want to deal with it. It made a huge difference in our communication. I always thought he took off to the yard when he screwed up to keep me from yelling!!! When I examined his actions when I screwed up (yeah it happens!!!) they were the same, he does not argue. However, now when he knows he has made me mad, he will hang out and hash it out with me! I got the cutest picture of Kinsey and Connor. Kinsey and I were sharing a meal, and it come with an ear of corn. She and Connor are sitting next to one another, and I look over and she is holding it between them, they are each eating on their side, foreheads together...one ear of corn! I had the camera because we had been to see the baby!! He is STILL perfect! They are telling on TV about a 2 week old baby who was taken to the hospital, after being abused and sexually abused by his parents, bruising, broken arm, cuts in his mouth, a cut on his toe clear to the bone, bruising and proof of abuse to his privates.....I cannot imagine. Who in their right mind???? No mercy. We are here when you feel up to it Terry. Prayers going your way. TracyKS---new digs look great!!! Bet you will love the pool! Tracy---I think it is hilarious the ex thinks you are a bad step mom, but the kid doesn't!!! Makes me laugh!!! Show her! Is she nervous over going to a new school? Macy ready to go back? Some of our kids start this Friday! If you are going to a new school---you go on Friday. If you are returning to the same school, they start on Monday. So, like 6th graders, and 9th graders go to school on Friday, gives them a chance to get around and see where the classes are without the crowd, and only other lost souls are there!! Seems wierd not having anyone to get ready to go to school. Manda has Kinsey ready for preschool. She is happy about it! Well I am off to the shower---I smell like Off Skeeter spray!!!

g4e---all I can offer is my own experience. The thin needle biopsy was a wierd one for me. The tumor on my thyroid was so large I could no longer lay on my back, as it closed off my air. They lay your neck back over a triangular wedge, which puts your neck in ideal position....but when they did I could not breath! So he would give me a breath, go in with the needle, pull out the needle, raise me for air when I lifted my hand! We managed to get it done. WHY they did it, I am not sure, they considered it inconclusive!!! As for the surgery, I had the same issue---when layed down I closed off, so had to be awake for the intubation---was scared to death of that, but it was so quick, and he "dropped" me so quick I barely remember any of the intubation. I had it done in the hospital, not in a day surgery center---because I had pathology done while still in OR. Betting you will too, since we have both travelled the cancer path before. I woke up sore, but not terribly so, ice was kept on my neck ALL the time, day and night for 3 solid days! Swelling never got bad. I had good news on the pathology, so I could have gone home that night, but my blood pressure kept dropping, so I had to stay overnight. I come home the next morning, a little over 24 hours was all. I had strict orders to maintain the ice at home, and did. I could have done it alone without issue. I slept a lot, was pretty used to eating soft diet, as it had restricted me for so long before surgery. I stocked up, and planned ahead, so it was not an issue. Pain was minimal. The usual restrictions, no lifting for a few days, I could not look up for a month, the stitches needed to heal with the skin taut he said. Looking up meaning tipping my head back--stretching the neck. There is not a lot that really burdens that area, so....watching TV, reading, taking walks, is all ok. I was out shopping within 2 days---had one man FREAK the hell out over my cut throat tho!!! He ask me "who did that to you????" LOL If you look in my Facebook album, there is a picture of my DH and I on a motorcycle trip, and while I had not realized it was even there yet, you can SEE it in the picture, I look like I have a bigger Adam's apple than DH! Now there is a hollow! It seriously changed my neck! The scar is hardly visible, it is a VERY fine white line. It was not done by a PS--it was done by an ENT. I too was told that if it were cancerous, the extent would determine whether it was removed or not. There are situations where killing it in place, and not exposing the cancer cells to the blood stream is a more prudent move. 2 years later, the only issue I have is I have problems wearing regular necked shirts, like a round neck t shirt---I feel like it is choking me. Might be mind over matter, but I stick to V necks and all is well! Hope yours is as untraumatic as mine was, and that you have as great of news--no cancer. And that you get your skinny neck!!! Feel free to PM me, and if you want I will send you my #. I know the panic that sets in at the thought of going through chemo again----I was a basket case. Busy days getting all the back to school exams done---chaos in a major way! Off to the shower and then to bed! Tomorrow is my day to go in late, so will check to see what is worth PJTP about!!!

I wouldn't be saying Good boy to Rick either!!! I am much more passive aggressive than that! I would find something he seriously did not want to be late to, and let him be! Let it affect him! LOL, not very nice, I know, it would be better to discuss it, but I'd let it bite him in the butt personally!!! I have a pet peeve along that line, with parents! I see it sooooo much now being back out in the public eye. Parents thanking their kids for EVERYTHING! They sit there and kick their Mom, and when they finally quit after being told umpteen times, Mom thanks them! GRRRRRRR!!!!! When a child behaves without being reprimanded, and a parent thanks them for the excellent behaviour then that is fine, does not bug me a bit, but when they praise rotten actions, it tells me that kid is going to grow up feeling entitled to praise for doing nothing worthwhile.....we have tons of them now! My son is cooking fajitas tonight---he has a huge disc he cooks on, over an open fire. He ask DIL what she wanted and that was her answer. So he is cooking that, I am picking up cake and ice cream. Hope she does not do too much. BUT the biggie here, is I get to huggle on the new little guy tonight!!! Well I guess I better get it in gear and get out of here. It is feeling like fall outside.....makes me sad. We have such HUGE temperature changes this time of year. We wake up to the high 40's and then it soars into the upper 90's through the day. I hit the heat on the trip to work, and the AC on the way home! See y'all after the birthday party.